Summary Minutes October 3, 2007 

NIOSH/CDC Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health 

Subcommittee for Dose Reconstruction Review

THE SUBCOMMITTEE FOR DOSE RECONSTRUCTION REVIEW

 OF THE

ADVISORY BOARD ON RADIATION AND WORKER HEALTH 

 NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH 

CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION

 _______________________________________________________ 

Summary Minutes of the Seventh Meeting 

October 3, 2007

 _______________________________________________________ 

The Seventh Meeting of the Subcommittee for Dose Reconstruction Review 

(the subcommittee) of the Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health 

(ABRWH or the Board) was held at the Holiday Inn Select in Naperville, 

Illinois on October 3, 2007. The meeting was called to order by Dr. 

Lewis Wade, the Designated Federal Official, Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Institute for Occupational 

Safety and Health (NIOSH), the agency charted with administering the 

ABRWH. These summary minutes, as well as a verbatim transcript 

certified by a court reporter, are available on the internet on the 

NIOSH/Office of Compensation Analysis and Support (OCAS) web site 

located at www.cdc.gov/niosh/ocas. 

Those present included the following: 

Subcommittee Members: 

Mr. Mark Griffon, Chair; Mr. Bradley Clawson (Alternate); Mr. Michael 

Gibson; Ms. Wanda Munn; Dr. John Poston; Mr. Robert Presley 

(Alternate). 

Designated Federal Official: Dr. Lewis Wade, Executive Secretary. 

Department of Health and Human Services: 

Ms. Liz Homoki-Titus, Office of the General Counsel. 

Dr. Christine Branche, Office of the Director of NIOSH. 

Mr. Stuart Hinnefeld, Dr. Jim Neton (NIOSH). 

Ms. Kathy Behling (telephonically); Mr. Doug Farver, Dr. John Mauro, 

Sanford Cohen & Associates. 

Mr. Scott Siebert, Oak Ridge Associated Universities. 

Dr. Paul Ziemer, Chairman of ABRWH. 
Summary Minutes October 3, 2007 

NIOSH/CDC Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health 

Subcommittee for Dose Reconstruction Review

 2

 * * * * *

 Opening Remarks

Dr. Lewis Wade, 

NIOSH

The meeting was called to order by Dr. Lewis Wade, Designated Federal 

Official for the Advisory Board. Dr. Wade introduced the Chairman of 

the subcommittee, Mr. Mark Griffon, and members Mr. Michael Gibson, Dr. 

John Poston, Ms. Wanda Munn, Alternates Mr. Bradley Clawson and Mr. 

Robert Presley. Dr. Wade noted all members and alternates were present 

and participating in the meeting. 

Also recognized by Dr. Wade was Board Chairman Dr. Paul Ziemer, who was 

observing from the audience. 

Instructions were given for interaction between telephone participants 

and members at the table in an effort to make comments audible to those 

engaging in dialogue as well as those listening. 

The issues to be discussed were reviews of the fourth and fifth sets of 

cases, with a discussion of blind reviews. Dr. Wade indicated that 

copies of discussion materials could be made for those who needed them. 

Dr. Christine Branche was introduced to the audience by Dr. Wade, 

explaining that she is training to assume the responsibilities of DFO 

at some point in the future. He noted she would be sitting close to 

the table during the meeting. 

* * *

Subcommittee Chairman Mr. Mark Griffon introduced others at the table 

including Mr. Stuart Hinnefeld from NIOSH, Mr. Scott Siebert from the 

ORAU team, with Ms. Kathy Behling participating by telephone on behalf 

of SC&A. Mr. Hinnefeld also noted other NIOSH staff would be available 

by telephone if needed during the discussions. 

Mr. Griffon announced there had been a meeting of the subcommittee 

between the last full Board meeting and this, although he wasn't sure 

of the date, at which time the subcommittee had discussed the fourth, 

fifth and sixth sets of cases. He remarked they had come close to 

resolution on almost all the findings in the fourth and fifth sets. 

Mr. Griffon commented he would update those matrices to show the 

program actions in the final resolution column as being completed, and 

would clarify issues as they proceeded through this review. 
Summary Minutes October 3, 2007 

NIOSH/CDC Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health 

Subcommittee for Dose Reconstruction Review

 3

 * * *

 Audit Finding Resolution 

 Fourth Set of Reviewed Cases 

Mr. Griffon led the subcommittee through a discussion of the matrix of 

the fourth set, working from a document which had been updated on 

September 26th, 2007. As they proceeded through the document, each 

finding was addressed individually and in considerable detail. 

Due to extreme difficulty with the telephone connection, Mr. Doug 

Farver from SC&A, who was present in the audience, joined the 

participants in order to assist with comments made by Ms. Behling. Due 

to breaks in the transmission it was difficult for the subcommittee 

members to comprehend fully the content of her remarks. Mr. Farver had 

worked with Dr. and Ms. Behling on the review of the cases and was able 

to clarify issues for the subcommittee. 

As each finding was discussed, it was determined what the next step in 

the resolution process would be, or closed out if the issue had been 

resolved to everyone's satisfaction. 

 * * * * *

 Audit Finding Resolution 

 Fifth Set of Reviewed Cases

Turning next to the matrix for the fifth set of cases, Mr. Griffon

indicated that he was going to work from a smaller matrix which Mr. 

Hinnefeld had distributed. He explained that if a finding did not 

appear on this short matrix, and unless he mentioned them otherwise, 

subcommittee members could presume they were closed out in the last 

meeting. That closeout could have been by agreement or having been 

deferred to another workgroup or site profile review. 

The same procedure was followed as for the fourth set, with findings 

being discussed individually and in detail. The next step in the 

process of reaching resolution was agreed to or, where appropriate, 

ultimate resolution was noted. 

 * * * * *

 Discussion of Blind Reviews
Summary Minutes October 3, 2007 

NIOSH/CDC Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health 

Subcommittee for Dose Reconstruction Review

 4

Mr. Griffon announced that Mr. Hinnefeld had distributed to the 

subcommittee members and alternates a spreadsheet containing the blind 

review potential cases. Mr. Griffon suggested the members look through 

and highlight two or three cases they felt would be good candidates for 

blind review. Once they had done that, he asked the spreadsheet be 

returned to him, indicating he would speak with Mr. Hinnefeld outside 

the meeting. 

Mr. Griffon explained the idea was to avoid discussion of the selection 

publicly in order that the cases remain blind to the contractor. 

Because the matrix contained identifiable information, it should not be 

submitted to the public record. 

Ms. Liz Homoki-Titus from the HHS Office of General Counsel expressed a 

concern about the subcommittee doing its work without the sanction of 

an appropriately-closed meeting. She suggested perhaps she and Dr. 

Wade should discuss the matter and determine how best to handle it. 

Mr. Griffon agreed, noting that the issue is how best to keep the cases 

blind to the contractor. In the meantime, he maintained his suggestion 

that members review the matrix and select what they felt might be 

appropriate cases, although there won't be a ruling on it at this time. 

 Members could make their comments to him individually and, as the 

Chair, he would make a decision. 

Adding that he would like to receive the members' suggestions before 

the end of the full Board meeting on Friday, Mr. Griffon emphasized 

that those suggestions be made with no discussion or deliberation with 

him personally. 

 * * * * *

 Future Plans and Actions

Mr. Griffon observed that at the last meeting of the subcommittee they 

had discussed the sixth set of cases. Updating the status, he reported 

that NIOSH has provided responses, although SC&A has not yet evaluated 

them. That will be brought to the subcommittee process as soon as 

possible. 

Mr. Hinnefeld added that he had released a sixth set matrix with some 

initial responses. 

 * * *
Summary Minutes October 3, 2007 

NIOSH/CDC Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health 

Subcommittee for Dose Reconstruction Review

 5

Describing his anticipated path forward for the subcommittee, Mr. 

Griffon expressed an intention to meet again before the December 6 

Board meeting. While it could possibly be timed for some of the other 

work to be underway, his aim was for a closeout of the fourth and fifth 

sets of cases in order to report a final version of those two matrices 

during the full Board phone call on December 6th. 

Mr. Griffon commented he would work on finding a date for such a 

meeting and e-mail the members with the information as soon as he got a 

sense of how long it would take. 

 * * * * *

 With no further business to come before the subcommittee, the 

meeting was adjourned at 12:00 p.m. 

Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë

I hereby confirm that these Summary Minutes 

are accurate, to the best of my knowledge. 

___________________________________________ 

Mark Griffon, Subcommittee Chairman 

___________________________________________ 

Date